Andrew 4

See it if three great divas sharing a stage, a complex story told cogently through 3 time periods, rich music, wonderful staging, great set

Don't see it if you're not familiar with Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway or the book The Hours, you feel nothing will compare to the film

See it if you like Neil Dimond's repertory & want to hear it sung beautifully, fan of Will Swenson & Mark Jacoby, want to learn a tad more about him

Don't see it if you expect an in depth look at the singer's life, want to see a musical with travail & triumph, don't like sing-alongs

See it if Interesting concept based on an actual locale, characters not developed as thoroughly as one would expect, what happened between scenes?

Don't see it if Uncomfortable with talk about Nazis or snide references to outsiders, seeing an innocent become a true believer, admiration for Hitler

See it if Byrne is a fine actor who can hold an audience's attention for 2 hours. He knows how to pick out the stories from his life that resonate.

Don't see it if not enough talk about life in the theatre and performances, perceptions of the profession and why people want to get involved

See it if fan of Diedre O'Connell, can stand an abusive, angry stubborn main character, curious about Salem's history, mix of dreams and reality

Don't see it if an out-of-control know-it-all title character turns you off, don't like references to supernatural, don't like tidy unearned happy endings,

See it if curious about Warhol & Basquiat's relationship, fans of actors Bettany or Pope, enjoy historical references, or actually knew the both men

Don't see it if you expect elaborate analysis of their art, you want to catch glimpses of their work, want to see action outside of their studios

See it if you are interested in depictions of domestic abuse in a gay context & difficulty of leaving, father-daughter sagas, issues explored in dance

Don't see it if male on male domestic abuse turns you off, stories of black families facing difficulties are difficult, don't get symbolic dance

See it if you enjoy dramas focusing on neglected populations, America's shameful history of immigration & real experiences of Chinese immigrants

Don't see it if you don't like depictions of America's poor treatment of immigrations, deliberately frustrating scenes of growing despair and sacrifice

See it if want to see a live absurdist vision of the Bronte classic, like exaggerated versions of characters that are true to Bronte but more fun here

Don't see it if regard the novel as classic text not be staged story-theater style, feel that funny tropes not necessary and do a disservice to Bronte

See it if you're a fan of Ralph Fiennes, you're interested in architecture & urban planning, want to learn about Robert Moses, fan of NYC history

Don't see it if Can be dry at times, two longish acts, were characters based on his real staff, expect more action more coverage of Moses's ups and downs

See it if you're a fan of Linda Lavin, like seeing a debuting playwright attempt something profound, comedic approach to fatal illness & eccentricity

Don't see it if Symbology confusing and disconnected, situation a tad unbelievable especially caregiver's eccentricities and rudeness, disapponting

See it if you are a fan of the film, saw Sugar & are curious how this totally new show addresses the subject, enjoy big brassy shows with dancing

Don't see it if uncomfortable with drag, don't like PC approaches to an old story, want to hear final line from film (not here), not a fan of of farce

Also Great colorful costumes, Cristian Borle is fun and memorable, plot change with Daphne really doesn't work, colorful expansive sets... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of Parsons or the creators, enjoy melodic musicals staged with wit & charm, great ensemble cast, delightful character study

Don't see it if you don't like musicals esp. where part of the cast play instruments on stage, though there is a band, or intimacy of small venue

See it if you're interested in how leaders in any religion could lose faith & the impacts on their lives & families, hearing actual transcripts

Don't see it if you're not interested in the subject of religion or upset by people who do lose their faith, don't like actors playing multiple parts

Also Wonderfully staged in a way that feels remarkably intimate, which may make certain theatergoers feel very uncomfortable, has a sense of immediacy and, toward the end, a sense of rolling growth as more and more such individuals "come out" to the researchers... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of the singer-composer, enjoy musicals suffused with non-stop graceful & clever dancing, you like fairy-tale like plots

Don't see it if Don't like stories told mostly through dance, simplistic and predictable plots, lack of depth in the characters, overdone dancing

See it if you're a fan of the book or director, willing to sit 4+ hours for a harrowing study of damaged man & his circle of friends, stunning acting

Don't see it if 4+ hours is too daunting, have no stomach for acts of abuse & self-harm depicted on stage, don't like supertitles or relentless grief

See it if you're a fan of KPOP music & girl and boy bands from Korea, curious about staging in Circle in the Square, constant movement & dancing

Don't see it if Don't like loud music, looking for a show with a gripping plot, not a fan of KPOP, want meaningful songs, want character development

Also The plots that drive the show are rather simplistic and you only really get to know 3 characters in any kind of depth. Costuming is lovely, staging and lighting can be spectacular but there is not a lot of there there... Read more Read less

See it if you liked Cameron Cruse's book and the film, enjoy 80's style rock music, musicals with actual storylines, rites of passage tales

Don't see it if Not a fan of 80's rock, not fond of plot about a rock group's behavior & a teen rock critic hanging out with them, seeking biting satire

See it if you enjoy historical re-enactments, appreciate the work and mind of James Baldwin, finding contemporary resonance in 50 year old arguments

Don't see it if Too contemporary, lack of sense of being at Cambridge, simplistic, lack of dynamic creative staging

See it if you enjoy thought-provoking staging, unusual juxtapositions, young romance amid war, quirky musical observations, Austin Pendleton fan

Don't see it if main WWII plot interrupted by contemporary musical karaoke, tragic sense of doom redeemed by hope, not a fan of naive youthful exuberance

See it if you're a fan of Stranger Things, like satire with music, funny , earnest performances, Winona Rider jokes, humorous staging, you miss Barb

Don't see it if you've never seen Stranger Things, don't appreciate over the top satire, don't like what appears like makeshift staging, who's Barb?

See it if you like Tom Stoppard, European history from 1890 to 1995, how past events impact future generations, sweeping staging, family sagas

Don't see it if you don't like paying attention to keep characters straight, a sense of impending doom, plays that leap forward in time, no break in 2 hours

See it if you like the performers, enjoy Jewish humor, enjoy classic jokes given a new spin, back and forth one-liners

Don't see it if you don't care about the performers, don't enjoy mundane Jewish jokes told haltingly and frequently slowly, often cliched

See it if you like struggling family stories, esp. those dealing with a child with severe needs & 24/7 care, parenting, friendship & isolation

Don't see it if you think subject matter may be too intense, don't like husband-wife problems dealing with handicapped child & need for support

See it if you enjoy new musicals and LaChiusa's music specifically, two-handers that keep you guessing about the relationship, great acting & voices

Don't see it if You expect more from a musical than just two people seldom on stage at same time, have no interest in immigration, "found" family, addiction

See it if you loved the book, are a fan of epic stories across miles and years, want to learn a bit about Afghanistan, enjoy family stories

Don't see it if Thinking about Afghanistan is a trigger, you don't enjoy linear narratives with the action more described than seen, many digressions

See it if you like innovative storytelling combining Korean folk tales with Korean-American history, interplay between fantasy & reality

Don't see it if don't like plays with war and abuse scenes, seemingly unrelated narratives that become clear later, too subtle plotting, generational sagas

See it if you're a fan of the great Marylouise Burke. like plots that throw a group of strangers together for a heartbreaking believable purpose

Don't see it if don't like being strung along before getting a full understanding, unreliable but funny main character, promised characters who never show

See it if you enjoy biting satire, an all-female cast in multiple roles including men,

Don't see it if are easily confused by actors playing multiple parts, don't want your behavior a subject of satire (esp. Trump supporters or feminists)

See it if To learn about a hidden, yet commonplace practice in mid-East tribal cultures, musicals about a masculine practice that turns to love

Don't see it if Uncomfortable with macho behavior in a homoerotic practice that challenges a modern society

See it if you enjoy solo shows & irreverence with audience culpability, enjoy satire & gay storylines, tales about the bravery of an individual

Don't see it if don't like gay storylines, don't like comedies especially raucous ones, one person, one act plays, seeing the playwright in title role,

See it if you've never seen the Orestia before, want a modern stage & approach to Greek tragedy, riveted by great acting and staging,

Don't see it if don't like long performances, don't understand why certain characters are circling stage throughout, expect a richer "Eumenidies" part

See it if for unique take on a sleek but long Hamlet, excellent performances by mostly British cast esp. Alex Lawther in title role, exciting staging

Don't see it if lengthy plays, have difficulty with Shakespearean language, don't like suggestive setting, having to listen

See it if interested in competitive solitaire, enjoy gay plotlines, family stories, likeable but frustrating main character,

Don't see it if don't like stories that stretch credibility, don't like tales of selfish, confusing mothers, plays that disenfranchise main female character

Also Hard to take coincidences and unconvincing relationships, how could all these characters who we find out sort of know each other get involved in such conflicting situations, who is on who's side?... Read more Read less

See it if you like brand new musicals, especially by a talented 19-year old, fan of the actual book, interesting take on mental illness, mix of genres

Don't see it if don't like mix of comedy & tragedy, drastic change between acts, shocking coming of age tales, frustrating main character

See it if you like gay romances, stories based on chance encounters, have a fondness for Amsterdam, want to see 2 young actors in strong performances

Don't see it if don't like gay stories, immigration issues, a Greek chorus playing multiple roles, frustrating potentially tragic tales,

See it if you like unusual clever staging, see five actors play 1 character, seeing a playwright in her own work, like plays about father s & daughers

Don't see it if could be confusing with actors playing the same character, like linear plots, don't like slight audience participation, have father regrets

See it if You like new musicals, esp. ones with princesses, mix of contemporary & royal costumes, romantic comedies, unexpected plot twists

Don't see it if not fond of rom-coms, have seen too many princess musicals, don't like fantasy, wish for more dancing, unrealistic plot developments

See it if you enjoy neglected British plays with modern relevance, plays with moral resonance about self-fulfillment & social constrictions

Don't see it if you don't like older plays that may seem creaky at first, easily frustrated by old-time British morality and traditions

See it if you've never seen a live production of this show, enjoy old fashioned musicals, you're a fan of any of the principals, curious about changes

Don't see it if you are expecting a Streisand version, don't like limited-style staging, want extraordinary singing by lead, an odd choice for Fanny

See it if You have seen playwright’s previous work, interested in story of a middle-aged gay “widow” trying to start over, questions of legacy

Don't see it if You don’t enjoy gay content or nudity on stage, don’t want to lock up your phone in a packet, subject matter too triggering

See it if You enjoy farce-like comedies, are a fan of many of the cast members, enjoy political comedies, can make fun of a certain former POTUS

Don't see it if Do not enjoy slapstick or the occasional unbelievable scenario, are unimpressed by controlled chaos, don’t like questionable language

See it if You’re a fan of Edouard Louis & seen previous stagings of his work, curious about the real Eddy & his politics as well as the rest of story

Don't see it if Don’t like productions in foreign languages with supertitles, uncomfortable with gay situations, not a fan of French leftist politics

See it if You enjoy new comedies focusing on life in the theater, plays about friendship & jealousy, plays with drag queens & straight, gay & bi folk

Don't see it if Uncomfortable with gay characters & drag queens, don’t like comedies with serious undertones, not fond of satire

See it if You enjoy riffs on Shakespeare, contemporary comedies, stories focusing on black families and gay offspring, backyard revelry

Don't see it if You don’t like gay content or stories about black families, afraid you’ll need to be familiar with Hamlet, can’t get black or gay humor

See it if you're a fan of Silverman, enjoy adolescent growing up stories, were a fan of Fun Home, want to see Bebe Neuwirth &/or Cassie Levy on stage

Don't see it if you don't like stories about young teens with problems, multi-generation dysfunctional families, expect a large-scale frothy musical,

See it if you like funny yet provocative shows about life in majority-black inner-city schools, unique characters who make an impression, good plot

Don't see it if you don't like plays about high school students who speak in a contemporary urban vernacular, "Godot"-like plots, minor sense of suspense

Also One of the more interesting, creative and ultimately moving plays I have seen this year... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy new plays & ones with gay themes, enjoy family plays with funny, exasperating characters, appreciate risky topics & talk of death

Don't see it if you are tired of some gay cliches, self-lacerating gays, can't accept premise of 3 generations of gay men together, talk of assisted suicide

Also Had hoped it would be a meatier play with believable plot turns toward the end, though it is nice to see Randy Harrison back on the New York stage... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of Hartman & want to see more of her work, enjoy dystopian stories, like looking at a lovely set, ideas of future technology

Don't see it if Confusing, contradictory character development, dishonest betraying characters, pointless incoherent plot, terrified by technology

Also What did I just see? Not kind to the audience!